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Old wives' tales that are true

Some old wives' tales are myths, and some even dangerous -- but others are real, and backed by medical science. Check out this collection of old wives' tales that are true.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away: Research at the University of Ulster found that apple phenols protect against colon cancer. Researchers at Cornell University also found that up to six apples a day can prevent breast cancer in primates, and believe this may also apply to humans

Hot tubs may decrease chances of pregnancy: A three-year study at the University of San Francisco found men who switched to showers instead of their normal hour-long hot baths had sperm counts that rose nearly 500 percent.

Long labor, must be a boy: Researchers at Dublin's National Maternity Hospital studied 8,000 births and found that mothers of boys were significantly more likely to have longer labor and more complications.

Don’t swim right after eating: The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says after a meal, blood is diverted to the digestive tract to help assist with the digestive process. Exercise diverts blood to muscles, so it is possible that vigorous exercise after a meal could lead to cramps.

Wear a hat to hold onto your body heat: U.S. military research in the Arctic in the 1950s found up to 80 percent of body heat was loss through the uncovered heads of volunteers. Subsequent research conducted in Army labs qualified the claim, finding that a body at rest loses 7 to 10 percent of heat through the head, and during exercise, up to 50 percent, according to TLC: How Things Work.

Eat your carrots: Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam found that eating high levels of beta carotene - the compound that gives carrots their coloring - as well as vitamins C, E and zinc, lowers the chance of age-related macular degeneration by up to 35 percent. Other sources of beta carotene include pumpkins, sweet potatoes, pink grapefruit and spinach.

Gain a child, lose a tooth: New York University College of Dentistry did a study of more than 2,500 women and found that as the number of children increases, so does the mother's risk of losing teeth. More children also led to a greater risk of developing periodontal disease.

Drink cranberry juice for a bladder infection: A study done at Harvard Medical School showed that properties in cranberries destroy bacteria clinging to the wall of the bladder. Blackberry juice has a similar effect.

Chicken soup fights a cold: Allabouthhealth.org/UK says that in the 1980s, researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center found chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe a cold. Other researchers have found that the amino acid, cysteine, is a byproduct of chicken soup, seems to reduce the inflammatory response that comes from colds and other upper-respiratory infections.

Willow bark tea can cure a fever: The University of Maryland Medical Center says the use of willow bark dates back to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation. The bark of white willow contains salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). In the 1800s, salicin was used to develop aspirin. White willow appears to bring pain relief more slowly than aspirin, but its effects may last longer.

Swallowing gum can plug up your intestines: Swallowing a huge wad of gum or swallowing many small pieces of gum in a short time can cause a blockage within the digestive system called a bezoar, most often in children who have a smaller-diameter digestive tract than adults, according to Scientific America. But the condition is extremely rare.

Fish is brain food: Fish oil is high in the essential fatty omega-3 and omega-6, which are good for brain health and function. According to Dr. Jennifer Thieman, a recent study showed that, among people over age 65, those with high fish intake showed a lower rate of cognitive decline. Another study, done at Oxford University, found that children with coordination problems who were given omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs over three months showed significant improvements in school performance.

Thumb sucking gives children buck teeth: Unless a thumb sucking child stops before age 4, gums, jaw and permanent teeth can be affected, causing the condition known as buck teeth, according to Kids Health from Nemours.

You’ll snore more if you sleep on your back: Sleeping on your back allows gravity to make your tongue fall back into your throat, partially blocking the airway, causing your tongue to vibrate as air passes, increasing snoring, according to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association.

Chewing parsley cures bad breath: Parsley has long been known to counteract garlic breath. Herbalist Dee Atkins says that the high sulphur content of garlic that causes the unpleasant odor it counteracted by compounds in parsley. But putting parsley in food to cure bad breath doesn’t work. It takes chewing a sprig of fresh parsley.

Loud music will ruin your hearing: Over time, repeated exposure to loud music or noise can cause hearing loss, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine. Sounds above 80 decibels may cause vibration intense enough to permanently damage the inner ear, especially if the sound continues for a long time.

Spider webs stop bleeding, heal wounds: In traditional European medicine, spider webs are used on wounds and cuts to help healing and reduce bleeding. Spider webs are rich in vitamin K, which can be effective in clotting blood. arachnologist Rainer Foelix says a coating on webs may protect old and abandoned webs from fungal and bacterial attack, giving spider webs an antiseptic quality.

Full moon causes seizures: Researchers at the University of Patras Medical School in Greece found "significant clustering of seizures" around the full moon in a study involving hundreds of patients.

"I can feel it in my bones:" Researchers at Instituto Poal de Reumatologia in Barcelona found that arthritic patients had increased joint pain when there was a drop in atmospheric pressure.

Heartburn during pregnancy means a hairy baby: Pregnant women who reported moderate heartburn had hairy newborns 82 percent of the time while the majority of heartburn-free women gave birth to bald babies, according to a study done by researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Researchers surmise that the pregnancy hormones that stimulate fetal hair growth, also relax the esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus and causing heartburn.

Breakfast is my most important meal of the day: Skipping breakfast can lead to low blood sugar. Once food is eaten later, insulin levels shoot up, leading to hunger later in the day and disposition of fat in the abdomen, according to Dr. Judith Reichman, NBC Today Health. Non-breakfasting individuals are more likely to become obese, and to develop heart disease and have higher and earlier rates of mortality, she says.

Trout jump high when rain is nigh: When rain is impending, low pressure systems generally occur, according to Accuweather.com. The lowering of pressure can cause plant particles that were trapped at the bottom of a lake to rise, providing food for small fish. The small fish, in turn, become food for larger fish. The saying may be referring to this increased activity, and not necessarily jumping trout in particular.

Vitamin C Cures Colds: The belief that vitamin C cures colds goes back to disputed claims made by Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling in 1970. TLC, How Stuff Works, reported that in 2007, a sweeping review of 60 years of studies found that taking 200 milligrams of vitamin C every day shortened the duration of colds by a day, and it also seemed to cut the incidence of colds in people who were under extreme stress by 50 percent. Researchers say the antioxidant effect of vitamin C also helps rebuild molecules that are damaged during everyday activities.

Bees never get caught in a rain: Bees stick close to their hives just prior to rain. According to experts, bees use light from the sky to orient themselves. Before it rains, there are ice crystals in the clouds which foul bees’ ability to “see,” so they move inside before it rains, according to Examiner.com.

Red sky at night, sailors’ delight: When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles, according to the Library of Congress, Everyday Mysteries. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Typically, good weather will follow.

Red sky in morning, sailors take warning: A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west, according to the Library of Congress, Everyday Mysteries. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way.

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